Sting stifle Rangers’ offence for 2-1 series lead
Kitchener needs to be sharper after one-sided decision Tuesday
SARNIA — Something needs to change.
The Kitchener Rangers are fading fast in their Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semifinal.
The Blueshirts have dropped back-to-back games to the Sarnia Sting — including Tuesday’s one-sided 4-1 decision — and now find themselves trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
“I didn’t think it was a sharp game for us,” said Rangers coach Jay McKee. “I felt our execution wasn’t very good. The decisionmaking and the passing weren’t as sharp as we need it to be.”
Things have been off for the past two games.
Kitchener came into the second round as the highest-scoring team in the league, after potting 33 first-round markers. But the club has beat Sting goalie Justin Fazio just three times in the past two games.
“I don’t think it’s anything we’re seeing in them,” said Sarnia forward Franco Sproviero, whose club also won 3-2 in overtime in Game 2 Sunday at the Aud.
“I just think we’re sticking to our d-zone coverage (that) we’ve done all year. It has been pretty successful and obviously we’ve got, I think, the best goalie in the league.”
Sproviero put the home side up 1-0, beating Rangers goalie Mario Culina midway through the first much to the delight of the 3,870 fans at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena.
Rangers killer Sean Josling — who scored Sunday’s OT winner — dealt another blow by padding the lead with just four seconds left in the opening frame.
“That’s a back-breaker,” said Sproviero.
The teams traded third period tallies after a scoreless second, for a 3-1 Sarnia lead and the game looked done.
But the Rangers got a late lifeline when the Sting took a penalty with fewer than four minutes to go. However, that chance was negated by an Adam Mascherin roughing minor soon after.
“We score on the power play there, you have a one-goal game,” said McKee.
“You pull your goalie and maybe get an opportunity, and we have one of our veteran guys take a stupid, selfish penalty. If you have guys that don’t want to play for the logo on the front, you’re not going to be successful.”
Sproviero added his second of the game into an empty net with 38 seconds left. Jonathan Ang also scored for the Sting, while Joseph Garreffa had the lone goal for the visitors.
“They came out strong and we weren’t ready for it,” said Rangers forward Greg Meireles.
So far, Sarnia is winning without its top guns. The team’s first line of Jordan Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka and Jordan Ernst has yet to score in the series.
“I think that’s the best part of our team,” said Sproviero. “It’s just how you win in this league. You have to have great depth. The first line is getting a lot of grade A looks. It’s just getting unlucky. Hopefully maybe when we get past this second round here they’ll start scoring.”
Game 4 is Thursday in Sarnia.